MP bypolls: Seven nominees' papers rejected

Bhopal, Feb 20 (UNI) Seven candidates' nomination papers were rejected today during scrutiny ahead of the March 8 bypolls to two parliamentary constituencies and an assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said.

At Sidhi (ST), the Bahujan Samaj Party's dummy nominee Baban Singh's papers were rejected along with those of Mr Ramlal (Communist Party of India Marxist-Maley). In Gwalior, the papers of BSP candidates Lakhan Singh and Jawahar Singh were turned down. A decision will be taken early tomorrow regarding Mr Dayaram (Rashtriya Loktantrik Party) as there was a technical problem about his proposer.

At Udaypura assembly constituency, the papers of Madhosingh (Congress), independents Shyam Bai and Mahesh Kumar Raghuvanshi were rejected.

A total of 59 candidates had submitted their nomination papers with the break-up being Gwalior -- 28, Sidhi -- 18 and Udaypura -- 13.

The hustings were necessitated in Sidhi and Gwalior as MPs Chandrapratap Singh (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Ramsewak Singh Gujjar (Cong) were expelled from Parliament in the cash-for-query scam. Udaypura MLA Rampal Singh, who was the Public Health Engineering Minister, put in his papers after emerging victorious in the Vidisha Lok Sabha bypoll.

Submiting of nomination papers got underway on February 12.

Papers may be withdrawn until February 22. Counting is scheduled for March 11.

UNI